Nineteen fire chiefs from around the world and Federal Emergency Management Association Director R. David Paulison have places at the table for the National Fire Protection Association’s annual Urban Fire Forum being held in Boston. The forum is focusing on firefighting strategic planning and preparing the next generation of firefighting leaders. Some topics of discussion include firefighter health, safety and wellness, an overview of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, protective equipment, and public safety communication.

“Today’s firefighters face a myriad of challenges and are our first line of defense against not only fire but a host of other public safety issues,” said NFPA Metro Chiefs Secretary Russ Sanders, who coordinates the event. “The Urban Fire Forum is a critical way to bring together some of the best and brightest in the fire service from across the world to share ideas and chart future direction.”

This year’s participants include Chief Bob Khan, Phoenix Fire Department; Chief William McCammon, Alameda County (Calif.) Fire Department; Chief Keith Richter, Contra Costa County (Calif.) Fire Protection District; Chief Michael Smith (Ret.), Fresno (Calif.) Fire Department; Chief Charles Teale, Hartford (Conn.) Fire Department; Chief Larry Trujillo, Denver Fire Department; Chief William Bryson, City of Miami Department of Fire-Rescue; Commissioner Ray Orozco, Chicago Fire Department; Chief Bob Hendricks, Lexington-Fayette County (Ky.) Division of Fire and Emergency Services; Chief Kelvin Cochran, Shreveport (La.) Fire Department; Chief Bill Goodwin, Baltimore City Fire Service; Chief Tom Carr, Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue Services; Chief Sherman George, St. Louis Fire Department; Chief Luther Fincher, Charlotte (N.C.) Fire Department; Chief Salvatore Cassano, Fire Department New York; Chief Robert Ojeda, San Antonio Fire Department; Chief Wes Shoemaker, Winnipeg (Canada) Fire Paramedic Service; Chief William Stewart, Toronto (Canada) Fire Services; and Commissioner Sir Ken Knight, London (England) Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.